Fruit-picker



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

HENRY HAMMOND, 0E CHARLTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,764, dated May 15, 1888.

Application led December l2, 1887. Serial No. 257.576.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HAMMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, yhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in vFruit-Cutters, Src.; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, which, in connection with the drawings making a part of this specification, will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use thesame.

Myinvention relates toa cutter for fruit', Src.; and it consists in an improved construction of a cutter of this class, and, more particularly,

. in providing it with a springactuated holding jaw or surface by means of which the stem of the fruit, or anything else which it is desired to cut off, will be securely held and preventedfrom dropping after being operated on by the cutter. 1

The object of my invention' is to provide a cutter for cutting fruit, flowers, Snc., o f simple construction and operation, and adapted to -grasp or hold whatever is cutA or severed and prevent the same from dropping until the cutter is opened to release the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a cutter embodying myimprovements, aportion of the spring-actuated holding-jaw being broken away. Fig. 2 is a reverse view of a portion of the cutter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge view of a detached portion of the cutter, looking in the direction of arrow a, Fig. 1. Fig. .4 is a section on line x w, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow b, same figure, the jaws being shown closed. Fig. 5 corresponds with Fig. 4, except a stem is shown inserted and held between the jaws; and Fig. 6 shows the springactuated holding jaw or surface detached.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 and 2 represent the handles, of any ordinary const-ruction, of a cutter, which are pivoted together'- by a pin or screw, 3, in this instance provided with anut, 4, to hold said pin or screw in place. The handles l and 2 have the jaws 6 and5 respectively made a part thereof and extending beyond the pivotpoint of the handles, as is customary in the ordinary construction of pinchers. Thelower jaw, 6, is preferably provided (No model.)

with a strip of leather, 7, or other pliable material held in a depressionv in the face of said jaw 6; but this may be dispensed with, if desired, and the face of the jaw roughened or left smooth, if preferred. The upperjaw,'5, cartend along one edge or side of said jaw and sever or cut off anything placed between the jaws by shearing on the corresponding edge of the other jaw, 6. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) In this instance the knife-blade 8 is made ,angular in cross section (see Figs. 4 and 5) and secured to the upper surface or face of the jaw 5 by screws 9. If preferred, the knife-blade may extend only along the edge of thel jaw 5, as is often customary, and be secured thereto in any well-known manner, or made a part thereof. The jaw 5 is provided upon its inner face or surface with the movable or spring-actuated holding jaw or surface 10, which is supported and pivoted upon the pin or screw 3, and is preferablyprovided with an oblong Slot, 11, therein, 'through which said'pin or screw 3 extends, in order that there may be a slight movement of causing the movable jaw 10 to act more quickly at its ,pivoted end to grasp and hold whatever is insertedbetween the jaws of the cutter. A round hole may be substituted for the oblong slot 11 in the movable jaw 10, if preferred. The movable holding-jaw 10 is made angular in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, sol as to extend along the edge of the jaw 5 opposite from the knife-blade 8, andso as to extend along the inner face of the jaw 5, forming a yielding surface for said jaw 5, (see Fig. 1,) and said movable jaw 10 is adapted to bear or press against the face of the jaw 6. (See Fig. 4.) The movable holding-jaw 10 is pressed away from the face of the jaw 5-'in this instance by means of a small spiralspring, 13, supported in a hole, 14, in said jaw and bearing at one end againstthe top plate of the knifeblade 8 and at its other end against the inte rior surface of said movable j aw'lO. (See Figs. 1, 4, and 5.) Asmall lug-or projection, 15, on the edge of themovable jaw 10 extends over the end of the top plate of the knife-blade 8 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3) and prevents said jaw 10 from being pressed orheld too far awa from jaw 5 by the spring 13.

ries the knifeb1ade 8, which is adapted to ex-v said movable jaw 10 at its pivot-point, thus brings the handles 1 and 2 together, which causes the jaws 5 and 6 to be brought together and the knife-blade 8 to aet to sever the stem, and at the same time the spring-actuated holding-jaw 10 to be compressed, binding and holding the stem between it and the jaw 6. By spreading the handles 1 and 2 apart at the desired time thejaws 5 and 6 will be opened and the stem released.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with tliejaws 5 and 6, pivoted together and provided with the handles for operating the same, of a knife-blade upon one of said jaws, a springaetuated hold V ingjaw extending between said jaws 5 and 6 and forming a yielding suriaee for one of said jaws, a spring interposed between said movable jaw and the jaw it extends over, and a lug integral with the movable jaw and embracing the jaw over which said movable jaw extends 3o on the side opposite from said spring, for the purpose stated, substantially as shown and described. l

2. In a fruiteutter, the combination, with jaws pivoted together and provided with handlesfor operating the same, one of said jaws having a knife-blade thereon, of a springaetuated holding-jawextending'between said jaws and forming a yielding surface for one of said jaws, said holding-jaw being loosely secured at its rear end upon the pivot-pin of saidjaws, and provided with an oblong slot therein to permit of the rear end of said holding-jaw moving on said pivot-pin, for the purpose stated, substantially as set forth.

HENRY HAMMOND.

Vitnesses:

JOHN C. DEWEY, CLARENCE M. DroKrNsoN. 

